Typewriter keyboard



June 7, 1938. R. F. ESTES 2,120,174

T YPEWRITER KEYBOARD Filed July 15, 1957 22.161782 a INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention aims to provide a keyboard for a typewriter, wherein the shift keys are so located with respect to the innermost row of keys that the shift keys can be operated conveniently, learning to type by touch being made more easy, and rapidity of execution being secured.

It is within the province of'the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the standard keyboard construction, the shift key 6 occupies the position of the right hand terminal printing key 8 of the line I, and the right hand terminal printing key 8 of the line I occupies the position of the shift key 6. In order to make the interchange of the keys 8 and 6 called for by the present invention, and still have the shift key 6 operating a shifting mechanism, and the printing key 8 operating a printing mechanism, theshift key lever I is shortened and turned inwardly as at 9, the printing key lever I being lengthened and turned outwardly as at H. The only change made is an interchange of the keys 6 and 8, and a corresponding alteration of the levers l and III, as

shown at 9 and II, respectively.

What is claimed is:

A typewriter keyboard having a plurality of transverse lines of keys, comprising a second line including printing keys, a first line of printing keys immediately adjacent to the second line and nearest to an operator, a shift key at one end of the second line, a lever one end of which is extended inwardly and connected to the shift key, and a lever one end of which is extended outwardly' and connected to the printlng key which is at the end of the first line corresponding to the end of the second line at which the shift key is located.

RUSSELL F. ESTES. 

